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Battle for Swing States: Wisconsin

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    Will Republicans be able to take the Badger State?

  • Duration 4:59
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President Obama still days from becoming the official democratic nominee but.

Starting Thursday voters in 32 states will be able to cast their ballot for president.

Folks in North Carolina will be able to vote just as the DNC wraps up there.

Indiana and Kentucky are next on the calendar followed by the critical battleground Wisconsin.

And with highly contested states like New Hampshire and Virginia among those opening right after that these early votes could prove crucial come November.

-- -- About Wisconsin and very crucial battleground state and we're gonna take a closer look at what's actually going on there their latest real clear politics poll.

Shows the president and Mitt Romney really neck and neck the president slightly ahead there 40% to 4060 can see it's well within.

The margin and -- -- let's show you why Wisconsin is such a big deal if you look at the electoral votes yet ten.

Everyone counts of course especially when it -- these battleground states and then of course there's the economy -- the unemployment rate you see it's about a full percentage point.

Lower than the national average so that's significant.

And we want to show you gas prices as well because you don't see the unemployment rate every day in front of you but you probably see gas prices -- can make you feel a certain way about the economy.

The average gas price in Wisconsin is about ten cents higher.

Than the national average take a look at the history -- visits as well.

Mitt Romney spending quite a bit of time in Wisconsin seven days it's the president hasn't been there.

Since April so let's talk a little bit about this with Craig Gilbert he's the Washington bureau chief and national political reporter for the Milwaukee journal sentinel.

He's in Charlotte for the convention so Craig what you think about those visits did the Wisconsin -- field.

They don't have an -- attention from the president is Mitt Romney is visits really make a difference what is alike.

Well Wisconsin's been sort of -- -- and politics for a year and a half now so.

We had a huge recall showdown after that I think they appreciated getting a little a bit of a breather but there's an anticipation that both campaigns.

We'll be back this fall they haven't been on the air Wisconsin most people think.

That's gonna change in part because of what you've been talking about Paul -- selection has made the state of tighter race and it's an incredibly tempting target.

For Republicans because it's been voting democratic since the 1980s but it's been very close and some of those elections and -- can really have an impact on the map.

I was reading your recent article that included your thoughts about in your reporting about Paul Ryan and the fact that he is such a firebrand within that state I think it's gonna play out we will what do you see ahead.

Well I think one thing it does for sure is it that commits the Romney campaign a making a major effort in Wisconsin which wasn't.

Always guarantee I think it does health them on the margins.

And I think you know it could I'm not sure the Republican turnout in Wisconsin that needed much more motivation and the academy one of the reasons Wisconsin.

Is -- for Republicans is because the base is incredibly mobilize their compared to other states in part because of the recall election Paul Ryan.

Just adds -- that but he is a lightning rod in Wisconsin like he is elsewhere and so I think he probably motivates people on both side.

-- did you -- a -- -- because congress and -- -- a Democrat from New Jersey joins us last hour and he said.

Really this race is going to be one on the ground with the folks that have the resource is its not gonna be about -- these big speeches but you know Craig ridiculous things the big speeches.

Over the next couple days and is there anything -- that the Democrats platform.

That you think -- particularly resonate with folks in Wisconsin that could bring new voters into the game.

Well they obviously I think -- have to make the same economic arguments that about kind of where they're headed in what's happened last four years.

That they do have to elsewhere -- mean and the fiscal arguments.

Are very important in Wisconsin I mean that's been the debating ground.

For some time now I mean the it is a base -- -- election in some respects but don't forget there are swing voters in a state like Wisconsin and and we had.

There were areas of the state that Obama carried by ten points that Scott Walker Republican Kerry by twenty or thirty points in -- in the recall election so.

There's a lot of swing voters in this state so it's not just.

Turning out that bass boat so conventions do matter in that regard.

That's unbelievable to see that type of swing in one area in a matter of just a short period of time real quick -- Craig what about that early voting.

Is that going to be huge factor in Wisconsin you see a lot of -- getting out.

You know what you know -- what a big part a chunk of time ahead.

The November -- voting day.

Yeah I mean it's important I mean both sides will try to drive that early -- Wisconsin.

The early vote is not -- huge factors in Wisconsin -- in other states the Wisconsin's also a state that has same day.

Registration so you're gonna see.

A massive effort it's a very high turnout stayed I mean it's been among the highest.

Everybody votes in Wisconsin -- you're gonna see a lot of effort put into that.

It was importantly how -- the Packers going to do it now I'm just kidding -- -- to -- -- I mean politics -- do you think we'll stay with politics straight -- -- that and the program at Florida have you back talk more about Wisconsin.

Any time --

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